Kneeling stool



1932- u. ST. MARIE ET AL. 1,856,297

KNEELING STOOL Filed June 27, 1950 uvvayron. 13 Vlrzc ,SZzifarze BY Georye Berrzn'er W ATTORN Patented May 3, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KNEELING STOOL Application filed June 27,

This invention relates to a kneeling stool for use in connection with church pews and has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a kneeling stool includh ing a normally elevated, pivotally supported, spring controlled kneeling board capable of lacing readilv moved from normal to a horizontal position directly in rear of a pew when it is desired to use the stool and autoinatically elevated to normal position when pressure is removed from the kneeling board.

A further object of the invention is to provide. in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a kneeling stool for the purpose referred to and including a kneeling board carried by a pair of spring controlled, pivotally supported arms normally maintained in an upwardly eaten ded direction by the controlling spring therefor. and with the stool so con- 0 structed and arranged whereby said arms can he shifted downwardly on their pivots to entend at right angles to the uprights of the new for the purpose of supporting the kneel- W ing board in a horizontal position when the steel is desired for use. and with the spring controlled arms functioning to move the kneeling board to an elevated position when pressure is relieved from the stool.

A further ohiect of the invention is to prov de. in manner as hereinafter set forth, a kneeling stool for the purpose referred to inlui'lino: stops of cushioning material for limiting the upward shift of the kneeling board and with the arms provided with means to prevent the mar-ring of the floor when the stool shifted to a horizontal position for use.

Further objects of the invent on are to provide. in a manner as hereinafter set forth. a lrneeline' stool for the purpose referred to which is simple in its construction and ar ra'ngcment. strong. durable. thoroughly eificicnt in its use, readily connected with. the M ear of a pew. and inexpensive to manufacture.

l l ith the foregoing and other objects in v ew the invention consists of the novel constiaiction. combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated in the accompanying 1930. Serial No. 464,300.

drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to wh ch fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several. views Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a pew and kneeling stool in accordance with this invention and showing the adaptation of the stool with respect to the pew and with the stool in its normal elevated position.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 with the stool shifted to horizontal position for use.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary View in rear elevation of a pew showing the adaptation therewith of a kneeling stool in accordance w th this invention and with the stool shifted to horizontal position for use.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary View in longitudinal section of the stool.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 1 and 2 denote the ends of a pew, 3 the seatand 4 the back of the pew. The seat 3 and back 4: are secured between the ends 1, 2.

A kneeling stool, in accordance with this invention, is arranged between and connected to the ends 1, 2 of the pew and positioned between the rear portions of said ends at the bottoms thereof. The stool 5 includes a kneeling board 6 which is of a length less than the distance between the ends 1, 2 to prevent the board 6 abutting said ends when the kneeling stool is in its normally elevated position. The board 6 is carried by a pair of arms 7 and each of which is secured to the lower face of board 6 adjacent each end of the latter. The arms 7 project rearwardly with respect to the ends 1, 12 of the pew. lVhen the stool is in normally elevated position the arms 7 are disposed at an acute angle with respect to the ends 1, 2, but when the stool is shifted in position for use the arms 7 are disposed at right angles with respect to the ends 1, 2. Each arm 7 at its forward end is formed with an opening 8. The major portion of the rear end of each arm is disposed at an inclination as indicated at 9.

The inclined portion extends rearwardly from the bottom edge 10 of each arm. Each arm 7 projects forwardly from the forward edge of the board 6. The non-inclined portion of the rear end of each arm 7 is spaced forwardly of the rear edge of the board 6. Secured to the bottom edge of each arm 7 and arranged at the rear end of such edge is a pro tecting member 11 to prevent the arm from abutting the floor when the arm is disposed at right angles with respect'to anend of the pew. The member 11 also acts as a means to prevent the marring of the floor whenthestool is shifted in position. for use. The member 11 is formed of cushioning material.

Each arm 7 has associated therewith a spring controlling means therefor and said means functions to normally maintain the stool in. an elevated position. "When the stool is moved to a horizontal position for use it is had against the. action of the controlling springs for the armsT. WVhen pressure is removed from the stool, after the latter has been shifted to positon for use, the controlling springs automatically shift the stool upwardly wherebythe kneeling board 6 will be maintained in an elevated position and will be retained in such position until the arms 7 are shifted downwardly against the action of the controlling springs therefor. The upward shift of the stool is arrested by a pair of stops 12 which are arranged in the path of the board 6. The stops are secured to the inner faces of the ends 1, 2

2 of the pew. The stops may be constructed in any suitable manner, but preferably the free end of each stop is formed of cushioning'material so as not to mar the upper face of the board 6; The stops 12 are disposed downwardly at a rearward inclination.

Extending through the opening. 8 of each arm 7 is a sleeve 13 which in proximity to one endhas welded thereto: a collar 14. abutting arm 7.. A holdfastmeans 15 extends through collar 14 and engages with the arm 7 for the purpose of fixedly securing the collar 14 to the latter- That end of the sleeve 13 having the collar 14 positioned in proximity thereto, has fixed therewith a short sleeve 16 of materially less inner diameter than the inner diameter of the sleeve 13. That end. of the sleeve. 13 to which the short sleeve 16 is attached is indicated at 17 and the other end of the sleeve at 18. The sleeves 13. and 16 and arms 7 bodily shift in unison and the sleeves 13 and 16 are revolubly supported in a. manner to be. presently referred to.

Associated with the end 18 of each sleeve is a bearing element therefor and which also acts as a coupling means for a purpose to be presently referred to. The bearing element consists of a disk 19 formed with a centrally arranged hub 20 of circular form and which has its periphery rabbeted to provide a reduced part 21 and a shoulder 22. The

reduced part 21 forms a bearing for the end 18 of the sleeve 13 and said reduced part 21 is encompassed by the end 18 of the sleeve 13. The sleeve 13 abuts shoulder 22. The disk 19 axially thereof is formed with an opening 23 which extends through the enlargement 20 and the wall of the opening 23 is threaded.

Secured to disk 19 and projecting therefrom is a combined support and bearing memberreferred to-generally at'24, and which includesa shank formed of a hub portion 25, a reduced portion or part 26, a tapered portion or part 27. and a peripherally threaded portion or part 28 engaging with the threads on the wall of the opening 23. The tapered portion or part 27, when themember 24 is secured to the disk 19, abuts against the outer face of the-hub 20. The diameter of the portion or part 26 is materially less than the diameter of the hub Formed inte gral with the outer end of the hub 25 is a head 29 of greater diameter than the short sleeve 16. The head 29' abuts against the short sleeve 16 and coacts with the threaded portion or part 28 of member 24 to confine the sleeves 13 and 16 in position. The hub or part 25 of the shank of the member 24 provides a bearing for the short sleeve 16.

The length of the part 26 is materially greater than either of the parts 25, 27 and 28. The part 26 is interposed between the parts 25 and 27 of the shank of the member 24. Surrounding the parts 26 and 27 of the shank of the member 24 is a coiled controlling spring 30 which is enclosed by the sleeve 13. One end of the spring 30 is anchored to the hub 20 of disk 19 and the other end is anchoredto short sleeve 16. The sleeve 13.and short sleeve 16 revolve on member 24 and reduced part 21 of hub 20.

The short sleeve 16 is provided with, open.- ings 31 for the passage of a lubricant. The sleeves 13 and 16 provide a revoluble, spring controlled element for the arms 7. The disk 19, member 24 and spring 30 provide a spring controlled supporting element for the rei oluble element. The arms 7 carrying the board 6 are spaced a substantial distance from the inner faces of the ends 1,2 of the pew. The disks 19 are oppositely disposed and secured to the inner faces of the ends 1, 2 of the pew by the holdfast devices 32. The openings 31 may also be employed to receive a spanner wrench to decrease or increase tension of spring 30.

What we claim is:

1. A kneeling stool for connection to a church pew comprising a pair of oppositely disposed spaced bearing elements, means for connecting said elements to the inner faces of the ends of the pew below the seat of the latter, a pair of combined supporting and bearing members, each secured at one end to a bearing element axially thereof and having its other end provided with a halo terminating in a head of greater diameter than said huh, short sleeves revolnbly mounted on said hubs and abutting said heads, controlling springs surrounding a part of said .nienihere and each having one end fixed to one oi? said elements and its other fixed to a short sleeve, elongated sleeves connected to and extending from said short sleeves to and revolving on said elements, a kneeling hoard, arine extending from said board, and means for securing said arms to said elongated sleeves,

A kneeling stool for connection to a church pew comprising a pair of apertured dishe, each having a hub on one face, said hnhe extending; trm'ards each other and each having its outer periphery rahheted to provide a hearing part, means for securing said d the to the inner faces of the ends of the pe H below the seat of the latter, a pair of coinhined supporting and bearing members, each secnred at one end to a disk axially of the latter ainl abutting against a hub and its other end formed with a hub part terminating in a head of greater diameter than the latter A elnhly mounted on said huh par and abetting said heads, controlling springs surrounding a part 01 said m members and each having one end anchored to one oil. said disks and its other end anchored to a short sleeve, elongated sleeves, each secured at one end upon one end of a short sleeve and extending; from the latter to and having its other end revolnbly mounted on one of said hearing parts, a pair out normally upstanding rearwardly inclined arms secured to and extending rearwardly W itroni said elongated sleeves, and a kneeling hoard ii." 1

to aaid arms. .ln tee nnon whereof We afiix our 81 113,-

tnres hereto.

ULRIG ST. MARIE. GEORGE BERNIER. 

